Bruce is a native of Hayward, California. He went through Hayward schools, followed by Cal-State Hayward and the University of California at Santa Barbara, resulting in a B.A. and M.A. in English. He taught first for Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, while earning a secondary teaching credential, which allowed him to enjoy a long career teaching middle school in Union City by day, and Chabot College by night. In retirement, he’s been on the board of the Hayward Education Association, the Hayward Arts Council, and Literacy Plus, besides publishing four poetry books and serving for 9 years as Hayward’s first Poet Laureate. Married to Kathy for 55 years, he’s also enjoying retirement with three sons and five granddaughters.